The short version: a Texas high school athlete who still has UIL eligibility in a sport should not sign an NIL deal with a local business, brand, collective, or person. UIL's current guidance says such an agreement "MAY NOT be executed until the prospective student-athlete has exhausted UIL eligibility in the applicable sport." The only NIL deals UIL allows before then are with a college, and only for athletes 17 or older.
Many headlines say "NIL is legal in Texas." That is true for college athletes. It is not true for most Texas high school athletes playing UIL sports, and getting it wrong can cost an athlete their eligibility.
Who sets the rules
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) runs Texas public high school athletics. Its rules on NIL are in Section 441 (Amateur Athletic Status) of the 2026-27 UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, and in UIL's NIL Information guidance (posted for 2026-27; last updated July 15, 2025). That guidance was issued in response to Texas House Bill 126 (2025), which amended Texas Education Code § 51.9246.
What UIL allows
- Athletes 17 or older may sign NIL agreements with a college — and only with a college. UIL: prospective collegiate student-athletes "aged 17 or older, MAY also sign name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements ONLY with postsecondary institutions." A "postsecondary institution" means a college or other school offering education beyond high school.
- Athletes may sign a college scholarship agreement. Section 441(b)(3) allows a scholarship agreement "with a postsecondary institution."
- Athletes may get professional help. UIL: its rules "do not prohibit a prospective student-athlete from obtaining professional representation to assist with matters relating to NIL."
What UIL does not allow
- No NIL deal with anyone other than a college until UIL eligibility in that sport is over. "Any NIL agreement signed with any entity other than a postsecondary institution, MAY NOT be executed until the prospective student-athlete has exhausted UIL eligibility in the applicable sport." That covers local businesses, brands, collectives, and individuals.
- No NIL agreements at all for athletes 16 or younger. Athletes "aged 16 or younger or family members of the prospective student-athlete ... MAY NOT sign name, image, and likeness agreements with postsecondary institutions or other individuals, corporate entities, collectives, or organizations."
- Family members cannot sign on the athlete's behalf. The same rule bars family members, "whether related by blood (consanguinity) or through marriage (affinity)," from signing NIL agreements.
What's at stake
Under Section 441(a), a student in grades 9-12 "is not an amateur" if, within the preceding 12 months, they "received valuable consideration for allowing his or her name to be used in promoting a product, plan or service related to a UIL sport or contest," or "accepted money or other valuable consideration from school booster club funds for any non-school purpose." Being an amateur is a condition of varsity eligibility under Section 403(d). UIL says the amateur rule applies "at all times (whether in school or outside school)" from the start of 9th grade until the student's last 12th-grade competition.
The penalty, per Section 441: the rule is sport-specific, so a violation makes the student ineligible in that sport. While a student holds the valuable consideration they are ineligible for varsity competition in that sport, and games they played during that time are forfeited "as the minimum penalty." A student who does not return it within 30 days of being told of the violation "remains ineligible for one year from when he or she accepted it." There is a narrow way back — a student who "did not realize" it was a violation and returns everything within 30 days of being told "may regain athletic eligibility as of the date the valuable consideration is returned" — but don't plan around that. Ask first.
What UIL's guidance doesn't cover
UIL's NIL guidance does not address school logos, booster involvement in NIL, banned sponsor categories, or a disclosure form. None of that matters much for most high schoolers, since non-college deals are not allowed before eligibility ends. If you are 17 or older and a college offers you an NIL agreement, ask the college's compliance office and your athletic director what rules apply before you sign.
What to do if you're in Texas
- If a business offers you an NIL deal, don't sign it while you still have UIL eligibility in that sport. Ask your athletic director first, in writing if you can.
- If you're 17 or older and being recruited, a college may offer an NIL agreement. Read our NIL contracts guide so you know what to look for, and have a parent or guardian and, ideally, a qualified professional review it.
- If your eligibility is done (for example, after your final season in that sport), UIL's guidance ties the restriction to exhausting eligibility "in the applicable sport." If you still play another UIL sport, ask your athletic director before signing anything. Your college's rules, the NCAA's, and Texas law may also apply.
- Use the time to prepare. Learn how NIL deals work and how taxes on NIL income work so you're ready when you're eligible.